biographical info
Joelysa Pankanea is a multiple award-winning
composer, sound designer and percussionist. Originally from Kenya, East
Africa, Joelysa has been composing, directing and performing her
original scores for the theatre for the past decade, and more recently
for film and animation.
As one of Western Canada’s leading composers,
Joelysa has had the pleasure of performing live in all of Vancouver’s
largest houses, various alternative venues across Canada, and several
international festivals. Musical directing both musicians and actors
alike, and teaching her scores to casts of up to 150 people, she has
become one of the most acclaimed and respected professionals in her
field.
Having majored in composition, with focus on
world music, jazz and classical, she fell upon the theatre world quite
by chance. Within two years, she had won her first Jessie Richardson
award for outstanding composition and cemented her place in Canadian
theatre history as one of the youngest musical directors and composers.
influences
Theatre, Musicals
Film, Animation